Highly-Integrated Active Reconfigurable Broadband Van Atta Retrodirective Antenna Array

Abstract

The currently available Van Atta retrodirective antenna arrays are confined to having single and fixed functions, low integration, narrow bandwidth, and a high profile. These limitations hinder their integration with other systems and confine their applications. In this letter, we incorporate surface mount technology (SMT) and radio frequency (RF) chip technology into the Van Atta retrodirective antenna array. Consequently, we develop a low-profile, highly integrated active reconfigurable broadband retrodirective antenna array. This array can operate within the 5–6.2 GHz bandwidth, achieving a relative bandwidth of 21%. It offers an adjustable radar cross section (RCS) range of −41 ~ 20 dB. When the gain is between 0 and 10 dB, within the ±40° range, the radar RCS fluctuation doesn't exceed 3 dB, and the profile height is under 4 mm. Owing to its outstanding retrodirective performance, high-level integration, flexible reconfigurability, and broadband characteristics, this array is highly adaptable to fields such as radar simulation, target deception, and Internet of Things (IoT) communication.